Shoutout to all the women out there trying to love themselves in a world that’s constantly telling them not to. Being a woman can be extremely challenging even in todays world, and each and every one of you should be proud of what you’ve overcome to be here. What a better day than today than today to reflect on how beautiful you are inside and out & to celebrate body positivity!! Media has created a social construct of what a woman should & should not look like…& I am here to tell you not to listen! You should embrace who you are, and be comfortable in your own skin. Don’t listen to society. Your goal should not be to impress others, but to be happy and healthy.

The first two images you see were taken of me this past week, happy in my own skin. The second two images were taken the summer before I entered college. I was on the boarder of being underweight and hated how I looked. I’d look in the mirror and be disgusted at what reflected back at me. I could never stop staring at my stomach and thinking about how it wasn’t what it was ‘supposed to’ look like. But, once I got to college, I realized that I was focusing on the wrong thing. I started to put my energy into getting healthier and stronger, focusing on the weight room and the volleyball court. Now I am 18lbs heavier and happier than ever.